US 11,815,524 B2
Volume fraction meter for multiphase fluid flow
Thomas Joseph Theodore Hillman, Missouri City, TX (US)
Assigned to Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Dec. 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/553,199.
Prior Publication US 2023/0194403 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
Int. Cl. G01N 9/32 (2006.01); G01F 1/38 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 9/32 (2013.01) [G01F 1/383 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A volume fraction meter comprising a flow meter, a flow line, and a strain gauge, wherein:
the flow meter is coupled to and positioned upstream from a turned portion of the flow line, with respect to a flow direction, and is configured to measure a volumetric flow rate of a multiphase fluid flowing in the flow direction through the flow line;
the flow line comprises a nozzle opening downstream of the turned portion of the flow line; and
the strain gauge is coupled to the flow line between the flow meter and the turned portion of the flow line, and is configured to measure a bending strain on the flow line upon discharge of the multiphase fluid through the nozzle opening, such that the bending strain and the volumetric flow rate provide inputs for determining a mixture density of the multiphase fluid.